Last Material For The Cure

"I'm back!... Here are your materials, Mister."

After returning to the old man's basement, I found him still working on processing the other materials needed for his cure.

He tries to give a reply to my greeting but then...

"Welcome back, Siel..."

...Cough!...Cough!...Cough!...

The old man was caught in a series of tough coughing that he won't seem to be able to stop on his own.

"How are you feeling, Mister?"

"I'm just feeling out of the weather today. It is nothing to worry about, Siel."

The old man's condition is getting worse and worse every day. But since we are almost done gathering all the herb materials he needs for his medicine, I guess I don't have to worry that much.

"By the way, are you with the Magical Beast, Herd, when that loud howling roar echoes in the forest?"

The old man and I casually sit at the table, then I told him what happened after we heard the loud howling roar from Herd's Boss Wolf.

"Your are right, Mister. That Herd didn't even bother to show some respect and say goodbye."

"Well, you probably lost to him earlier, right?"

"Tsk!... You are always so perceptive, Mister."

"Pfft!... Hahaha!... I'm not perceptive or anything, your face just shows how pissed you are whenever you are the losing one..."

"Shut it! Old man!..."

.

.

.

After eating our dinner, the old man continued to discuss about the loud howling roar that we heard deep inside the forest.

"An accession is coming among the Magical Beast Wolves of this forest."

"Accession?..."

"It means that the leader of the Magical Beast Wolves is getting challenged for replacement by a young one."

"Wait!... Don't tell me, Herd, is the one taking the challenge against their leader?"

"Of course not!... That Magical Beast is only at Rank_E. The one taking the challenge is the Rank_D Alpha-Wolf, the one who is always leading Herd's group."

The old man is right. Whenever I'm challenging Herd to a fight during these last 2 weeks, there is always that big Wolf, around the size of a car, that keeps on looking out for their whole swarm.

If that is what a Rank_D Magical Beast looks like, I wonder how big is a Rank_C...

"Double or triple it's size... That is how big a Rank_C Mystic-Wolf looks like."

"Tsk!..."

"You really don't like your thoughts being read so easily, SHORT-tempered brat."

"If you already know it, then stop reading my thoughts, old man. Anyway, what does the Magical Beast Accession have to do with your cure, Mister?"

"It is because the last material for the cure requires the Magic Crystal from the heart of the Mystic-Wolf, Siel."

All the materials that the old man and I have gathered for the medicine or cure that he is making for his sickness so far only include weird-looking herbs that are said to be able to contain or store Mana.

This is actually the first time that the material that he needs is not a herb but actually an object to be found inside a creature or especially, a Magical Beast.

But what exactly is a Magic Crystal?...

Why is it in the heart of a Magical Beast?...

And why do the Magical Beast Wolves need an Accession?...

Why do they need to kill and replace the Rank_C Mystic-Wolf?...

"That are a lot of questions being reflected in your face, Siel."

"If you already know what I'm wondering, then please at least try to give an answer, Mister."

"Fine... Which one you want to know first?"

While the old man and I were still sitting at the table, I started asking questions about what I was currently thinking.

...What exactly is a Magic Crystal?...

Magic Crystal is what allows the Magical Beast or human to be able to use Magic. That is what separates the Magic Beast from normal beasts and humans with Magical capabilities from normal humans.

...Why is it in the heart of a Magical Beast or human?...

According to the old man, as Magical Beast and humans use Magic, Magic Crystal starts to form in their hearts to be able to contain Mana which is necessary to be able to use Magic.

For humans who can use Fire Elements, a Fire Magic Crystal will be formed in their heart to be able to use Magic and control Fire and other Magic that use different Elements.

...And why do the Magical Beast Wolves need an Accession?...

It is because the Rank_C Mystic-Wolf that is leading the Magical Beast Wolves swarm has been infected by Curse and is about to go berserk.

"And that is why they need to kill the Rank_C Mystic-Wolf, Seil."

.

.

.

After answering my questions, it is time for the old man to tell me his great plan on how to acquire that last material for the cure of his sickness.

"So how do you plan to get that Magic Crystal from the Rank_C Mystic-Wolf, Mister."

It is not like those Magical Beast Wolves will just allow the two of us to walk right through the middle of the aftermath of their fight and gather the Magic Crystal from the dead body of Rank_C Mystic-Wolf.

"Well... What do you think all you have been doing getting close to Herd this past two weeks, Siel?"

"What?!..."

"You are probably close enough to be called as part of Herd's group, and you are gonna fight together with him against that Rank_C Mystic-Wolf. And as a reward for your participation, they might give you some Magic Crystal..."

...BAMM!!!...

I smash my hands at the table, being irritated, as I realize that it is all probably a scheme plan by the old man from the start.

"You set this all up, you crazy old man!"

"What is the matter? Afraid of one big bad wolf, SHORT-tempered brat?"

"How do you expect someone like me who can't even use any skill or magic to fight a Rank_C Magic Beast, old man?!"

"Well, you won't be fighting alone, SHORT-tempered brat. It will be together with all the normal wolves, all the Rank_E Herd-Wolf, and all the Rank_C Alpha-Wolf of the forest. All you have to do is give your best and fight together with them. Don't let your friend down and run away from the fight."

"Damn it, old man!... If you say something like that then what else can I do."

"Also, maybe use some of that rage and short-temperedness into some energy to beat the Rank_C Mystic-Wolf..."

"Shut it, old man... As if something like that would actually work!!!"

"Pfft!... Hahaha!!!..."